Prosecutors to seek the death penalty against Dylann Roof

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- (WMBF) -- Federal prosecutors have decided to seek the death penalty against the teen accused of fatally shooting nine African-American parishioners in a racially motivated shooting in 2015.

Dylann Roof, 18 is accused of shooting nine people at Emanuel AME Church in June 2015. Roof had hoped his actions would start a race war.

In a statement, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch says the Department of Justice will move forward in the Roof trial.

“Following the department’s rigorous review process to thoroughly consider all relevant factual and legal issues, I have determined that the Justice Department will seek the death penalty. The nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm compelled this decision," Lynch said in the statement.

Beyond that, federal prosecutors have not set a date for a trial, but a state death penalty trial has been scheduled for Jan. 17, 2017.